Compare towns
Barnstead vs Sturbridge vs Pittsfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnstead has the most homeowners (93.6%).
Sturbridge has the most people working from home (19.8%).
Pittsfield has the most renters (31.2% rent).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Barnstead | Sturbridge | Pittsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,994 |
9,960Highest |
4,105Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1 10% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S. |
41.5±5.1Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±6 U.S.: 22% |
| Barnstead and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Barnstead and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barnstead and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,660±$12k 38% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S. |
$74,318±$14kLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,400±$25k 9% above U.S. |
$425,800±$18kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$294,800±$30kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,193±$398Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,239±$182 12% below U.S. |
| Barnstead and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,003 92% above U.S. |
$6,520Highest 109% above U.S. |
$5,694Lowest 83% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.5%±27.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pittsfield and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sturbridge and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #111 of 120 in NH | #89 of 282 in MA | #93 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Pittsfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Pittsfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.